masterpiece entitled Maktûbât): [1] “If a person performs ’amal identical with the Prophet’s ’amal and yet retains a right of qul as much as a danq, [i.e. an iota of it,] he cannot enter Paradise unless he pays it back.” [His prayers will not be accepted.] Ibni Hajar-i-Mekkî ‘rahima-hullâhu ta’âlâ’ states as follows as he explains the hundred and eighty-seventh sinful act in his book entitled Zewâjir: The hundred and eighty-eighth âyat-i-kerîma of Baqara Sûra purports: “O Believers! Do not consume one another’s property in a way that is bâtil!” What is meant by that way (which is bâtil) is deceit by way of interest, gambling, extortion, theft, cheating, treason, false witness, and perjury. Some hadîth-i-sherîfs read as follows: “A Muslim who consumes things that are halâl and performs acts that are farz and avoids harâms and does not cause harm to other people will go toParadise” and “A body that is fed on harâms will burn in fire” and “If people do not feel secure against a person’s malice and harm, that person shall not reap any benefit from his faith or prayers of namâz or zakâts” and “If the jilbâb worn by a man has come to him by way of harâm, then the namâz he performs will not be accepted.” [Jilbâb means an ample head-scarf worn by women. Another piece of clothing that is called ‘jilbâb’ is a long garment worn by men. According to some people who argue that what is called ‘jilbâb’ is a two-piece charshaf worn by women, the hadîth-i-sherîf (quoted above) implies that men also wore that charahaf. It is quite obvious that their tenuous argument betrays an ignorant and ludicrous belief.] A hadîth-i-sherîf which he quotes in his treatment of the two hundredth sinful act reads: “A person who sells adulterated merchandise is not from our community. His destination is Hell.” It is stated in a hadîth-i-sherîf quoted in the discussion of the two hundred and tenth sinful act: “Hell is the destination of a person who hurts his neighbours with his tongue although he performs namâz and fasts and gives alms very much.” Even if one’s neighbours are disbelievers, it is necessary not to hurt them, to do them favours, and to be kind to them. It is stated in a hadîth-i-sherîf in the three hundred and thirteenth sinful act: “A person who unjustly kills a disbeliever during a time of peace shall not enter Paradise.” Another hadîth-i-sherîf reads: “When two Muslims fight for worldly interests, both the killed one and the killer shall go to Hell.” It is stated in a hadîth-i-sherîf in the three [1] This letter occupies the fifteenth chapter of the third fascicle of Endless Bliss. – 36 –

hundred and seventeenth sinful act: “A person who perpetrates cruelty to people shall be tormented for it on the Rising Day.” So is the case with perpetrating cruelty to non-Muslims. In a hadîth-isherîf in the three hundred and fiftieth sinful act: “There are three people whose invocations shall definitely be accepted: The wronged person, the guest, and parents.” And in another one: “A wronged person’s invocation shall not be refused even if he is a disbeliever.” In a hadîth-i-sherîf in the four hundred and second sinful act: “A person who kills his friend is not from our community, even if his friend is a disbeliever.” In a hadîth-i-sherîf in the four hundred and ninth sinful act: “Of all sins, rising against one’s government is the one whose torment shall be given most rapidly.” This is the end of our translation from Zewâjir. O Muslim! If you wish to attain the grace of Allâhu ta’âlâ and your acts of worship to be accepted, inscribe the hadîth-i-sherîfs quoted above in your heart! Do not attack anyone’s property, life, or chastity. Muslims and non-Muslims alike! Do not hurt anyone! Pay people their rights! It is one of the rights of quls for a man to pay ‘mahr’ [1] to the woman he has divorced. If he does not pay it, he will deserve vehement punishment both in the world and in the Hereafter. The most important one of the rights of quls, (i.e. rights of human beings and other creatures,) which therefore incurs the severest torment (when violated), is to cease teaching Islam to one’s kinsfolk, especially if they are under one’s care and protection. If a person prevents them and other people from learning Islam and from practising their acts of worship by way of persecution and deceit, it will be concluded that that person is an unbeliever, an enemy of Islam. An example of this irreligious attitude is to attempt to pollute the teachings of Ahl as-Sunnat and thereby to defile the Islamic religion, a strategy pursued by holders of bid’at and by people without a certain Madhhab by making subversive statements and writing seditious articles. Do not stand against the government or against laws. Pay your taxes. That it is a sinful behaviour to revolt against the government, be it a cruel and or fasiq one, is written in the book entitled Berîqa, (which was written by Muhammad bin Mustafâ Hâdimî ‘rahmatullâhi ta’âlâ ’alaih’, d. 1176 [1762 A.D.], Hâdim, Konya, Turkey.) Even if you are in the dâr-ul-harb, i.e. in one of the countries of disbelievers, do not violate their laws and mandates! Do not arouse fitna! Do [1] Please scan the twelfth chapter of the fifth fascicle, and also the fifteenth chapter of the sixth fascicle, of Endless Bliss. – 37 –